Takht Hukamnama cannot be challenged, says Dal Khalsa

AMRITSAR, Jan 5: Dal Khalsa has expressed its concern over the diametrically opposite stands taken by well known political and religious ...

AMRITSAR, Jan 5: Dal Khalsa has expressed its concern over the diametrically opposite stands taken by well known political and religious personalities on the authenticity of hukamnama issued by the Sikh clergy on December 31.

In a press note issued here today Dal khalsa Secretary General Kanwarpal Singh said: 8220;Even as the intentions of the jathedar could be debated and that too in a healthy manner, the traditions and concept of hukamnama is unquestionable and cannot be challenged. It should not be criticised or welcomed. Those who were doing this either, wittingly or not, have belittled the value and the concept of the hukamnama8221;.

While viewing that there was no need to issue the edict at this juncture, he said that probably the jathedar had overlooked its impact. The reported remarks criticising hukamnama on the Tohra-Badal tussle, were most unfortunate, as it would set a wrong trend in the contemporary Sikh politics.

Dal Khalsa took exception to the statement of jathedar of Damdama Sahib, Manjit Singh Calcutta that the Takht intervention was not in the Panthic interest. Kanwarpal said Manjit Singh knew well that the tradition of Akal Takht8217;s intervention in Akali politics was not the creation of Bhai Ranjit Singh. Moreover, Manjit Singh himself has intervened in 1994 to unite various factions of the Akali Dal at the behest of Tohra, he added.

By indulging in the war of nerves on this sensitive issue, Sikh religio-political leadership was not only betraying their own religious norms and traditions but also setting the wrong precedent to be followed in times to come. Dal Khalsa said if masses at large felt that the Akal Takht jathedar has performed his duty unfairly, they should approach the SGPC member of their constituency to register concern. By following this process, people8217;s concern could be discussed at the general house of the SGPC, for evolving a consensus.

Dal Khalsa leader said Manjit Singh Calcutta a former minister and close associate of Tohra, has also hurt the feelings of true Sikhs by saying that Sri Damdama Sahib was not a recognised Takht. He said, it was the prerogative of the Sikhs to recognise their Takht not the government. It made no difference to the Sikhs whether the government recognised their Takhts or not, he added.